Is Algebra Necessary?

[techhelpbb]

The easy way to fix 'No Child Left Behind'.

Just grade based on the ability to walk, talk and take orders.

See it's all fixed.

< this smiley misplaced it's dentures.

BTW, I was not the model math student (several of my teachers were fond of gloating over that point). However, I oddly retain quite a bit more than many of my fellow students I still know and more importantly I know where to look if I can't remember a transform into the s-domain. I have these things and they have paper in them. Good for the retention of knowledge until the paper rots or the ink fades. We used to call them books and unlike media today you need to provide external light (I know archaic). Next I might suggest the use of holes in paper for programming. Wobbles away on my old man cane and when I was in school our robots went up hill both ways.

Here's a little point: A well learned individual is not the total of their ability to recall information like a teleprompter. A well learned individual knows themselves and how to collect and use the tool of knowledge.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by DampRobot

(My own opinion is that any truly great student can succeed with any teacher, and any truly great teacher can succeed with any group of students. The problem is that both of these occurrences are quite rare.)

Your first point, I completely agree. Your second point, I agree, but there is an important caveat - "given an appropriate group size."

Originally Posted by techhelpbb

more importantly I know where to look if I can't remember a transform into the s-domain.
-snip-
Here's a little point: A well learned individual is not the total of their ability to recall information like a teleprompter. A well learned individual knows themselves and how to collect and use the tool of knowledge.

Being smart isn't necessarily knowing the answer to everything; being smart is knowing how to find the answer to everything. Rote memorization is a critical skill to have, and it's easily tested - in fact, I would argue that most standardized tests focus on memorization of facts. However, critical thinking, problem solving, understanding of processes, creativity, and being able to find material that isn't already between one's ears are arguably more important, but these aspects aren't commonly measured and evaluated. When rewards are evaluation- or merit-based, teachers are generally forced to teach toward memorization of facts, terms, and rules rather than investigate their use.

[Ekcrbe]

First, I want to apologize for my previous incomprehensible post. Looking back at it, it's pretty confusing. Anyway...

Originally Posted by Taylor

Rote memorization is a critical skill to have, and it's easily tested - in fact, I would argue that most standardized tests focus on memorization of facts. However, critical thinking, problem solving, understanding of processes, creativity, and being able to find material that isn't already between one's ears are arguably more important, but these aspects aren't commonly measured and evaluated. When rewards are evaluation- or merit-based, teachers are generally forced to teach toward memorization of facts, terms, and rules rather than investigate their use.

I think this is what the author was getting at in the first place. Algebra is a wonderful skill to have, but if students are taught only "these are the steps to do something algebraic..." and don't gain any actual skills, algebra loses its importance and becomes just a family of rules to remember. At that point, it doesn't help most people to have even "learned" algebra (I wouldn't call it learning, because it is only memorization), because it doesn't apply to their daily lives.